Pervasive computing in networked medical care

This case study project in the healthcare sector was funded by the "Innovation and Technology Analysis" programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

"Interdisciplinary junior research group within the framework of innovation and technology analysis".
The aim of the PerCoMed project was the case-based analysis of opportunities and risks arising from the use of pervasive computing technologies in integrated medical care for various application and interest groups. Options and requirements for action were identified for service providers in the healthcare system and political decision-makers.

As part of the project, practical case studies were conducted with the Neurological Clinic of Rhön-Klinikum AG in Bad Neustadt/Saale. In a first case study, the potential of pervasive technologies in the treatment of acute cardiovascular diseases was analysed, and in a second case study those in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Market-related technological expertise in the field of distributed information systems with mobile hardware and software components was contributed by the industrial partner n-Tier construct.

A participation concept was developed and implemented to accompany the project. This involved the various scientific disciplines and social interest groups in the discursive evaluation process. In this way, the different specialist terminologies, experiences and backgrounds as well as the underlying priorities, objectives and values were integrated into the research project.

In the interdisciplinary collaboration of qualified young scientists, participatory methods of innovation and technology analyses were used and combined and further developed with the methodological toolbox of computer science, economics and social sciences in order to develop both socially acceptable and economically viable technical systems for health.